by Alieu Ceesay
The Gambia’s Team Coach Omar Sise has unveiled the much anticipated final squad for the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations to be hosted by Ghana in September.
The local Scorpions will play the Host Ghana in the opening game on September 9.
The final squad comprised of goalie Modou Jobe alias Toldo, Hamidou BOJANG, Ebrima Sidibeh, Sang Pierre Mendy, Mbye Faye, MATARR CEESAY, Yahya NDONG, Adama JAMMEH, Pa Omar Jobe, Yankuba JARJU, ALAGIE NYABALLY, LAMIN CAMARA, Modou Sohna, Gibriel Sillah, SAIKOU Conteh, SAIKOU TOURAY, Bun SANNEH and Gregory Sambou.
In an interview with The Fatu Network at the team’s training session on Sunday morning, Sise said preparations for the tournament was going on smoothly.
The team was beaten twice by Fortune FC in their test games before defeating a Banjul Selection, but Sise is of the believe that that, the defeats would only helped him identify the problems in the team to better prepare the boys.
“This is normal to be defeated in test games and we will continue to play more test games. People need to continue encouraging the boys. The Gambia is taking the youngest team to the WAFU tournament.”
Sise guided The Gambia to the final against host Senegal in the 2015 WAFU tournament. “It is difficult to play against Senegal inside Senegal than Ghana inside Ghana,” Sise added.
37 players were invited for pre-selection training by the coach and according to him, it was not easy to come out with the final squad.
The inclusion of Senior Scorpions’ Goalkeepers Alhagie Jobe and Alhagie Nyahally, Sise said, would boost the young players. “I pursue Gambian international Ebrima Sohna to come and lead the team but as you know, it is not a FIFA date and therefore, it is difficult to bring players from outside”.
The hard-tackling midfielder Ebrima Sohna currently plays for Finnish top league side, VPS.
While commending the GFF leadership for the support, he said the team will go to camp on Monday at Seaview Hotel.
